The past 5 years I have been in California over Labor Day weekend taking part in the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend. If you follow runDisney events, you know that after 2017, races at Disneyland were on an "indefinite hold." I will admit it, at first I was heartbroken a bit because heading out to California each Labor Day weekend was an amazing time of friends, fun, and running.
With the cancellation of my beloved Disneyland Half Marathon weekend, I was now staying home over Labor Day. What is the best way to find the silver lining to a change in what had become tradition? Running a local race that you have heard so much about over the years, of course! This Labor Day, instead of 13.1 magical miles in Anaheim, CA, I was running 6.2 miles in Atlanta at the Big Peach Sizzler 10K.
With the cancellation of my beloved Disneyland Half Marathon weekend, I was now staying home over Labor Day. What is the best way to find the silver lining to a change in what had become tradition? Running a local race that you have heard so much about over the years, of course! This Labor Day, instead of 13.1 magical miles in Anaheim, CA, I was running 6.2 miles in Atlanta at the Big Peach Sizzler 10K.
With optional early packet pickup at a few of the Big Peach stores leading up to race day, I was able to grab my bib on Saturday to save myself some time on race day. New to the Big Peach Sizzler this year was the addition of a 5K distance. Sharing the same finish line, the 5K and 10K had start lines about 3 miles apart. Momma K was running the 5K which started 30 minutes before, so I dropped her off at her start line (Brookhaven MARTA Station) before heading a few miles up to Chamblee MARTA Station for the start of the 10K. I met up with Jennifer and her son Brendan at the MARTA station then made the short walk to the start area.
Since I already picked up my bib over the weekend, I didn't have to deal with that. The line wasn't too horrible, but it saved me a bit of time, so I was able to hit the port-o-potty and get lined up at the start stress free.
Time for some real talk. I haven't ran longer than 4 miles in a few weeks so this was bound to be interesting. Granted, 10K isn't too much further than the 3-4 miles that my "long" runs in August, but I honestly had no real expectations for myself. I knew from talking to friends that this was a pretty forgiving course. It IS Atlanta after all, so it isn't flat, but the uphills and downhills balanced each other out nicely.
Just like I usually tend to do, I went out way to fast...like faster than 5K pace fast. I was quickly brought back town to reality when we hit the first little hill about 3/4 of a mile or so in. I readjusted my pace and held a steady pace for the next 4 miles until I crushed some negative splits the last 2.2 miles. Kinda exactly opposite of what I was expecting given my past few weeks, but I won't complain.
I won't lie, in those final miles I had a drive that I haven't had in awhile. I eyed runners in front of me and took that one by one. I am not the fastest by any means, but even the middle of the pack can have some friendly competition. I kept pushing harder and finished strong.
Just like I usually tend to do, I went out way to fast...like faster than 5K pace fast. I was quickly brought back town to reality when we hit the first little hill about 3/4 of a mile or so in. I readjusted my pace and held a steady pace for the next 4 miles until I crushed some negative splits the last 2.2 miles. Kinda exactly opposite of what I was expecting given my past few weeks, but I won't complain.
I won't lie, in those final miles I had a drive that I haven't had in awhile. I eyed runners in front of me and took that one by one. I am not the fastest by any means, but even the middle of the pack can have some friendly competition. I kept pushing harder and finished strong.
Once I crossed the finish line, I collected my medal and headed into the finish area to find Momma K and friends. Talk about a post race party! For this being a "smaller" local race, this after party was awesome! At most races you get a banana or bagel and some water or sports drink. At the Big Peach Sizzler you got a legit breakfast. Flying Biscuit was on hand with a array of breakfast foods that you ordered what you wanted. The line was long (but moving) and I wasn't hungry, so I skipped out on the breakfast and wandered around a bit.
There were so many great vendors on hand and of course the Big Peach on Wheels truck was there for any shopping needs you might have. I just so happen to find yet another pair of goodr sunglasses that I "needed" so I didn't walk away empty handed.
Team 65 Roses briefly spoke about their foundation and how the funds raised today were helping with Cystic Fibrosis research before the awards ceremony started. It always adds a nice touch to races when you hear how money raised is being used and impacting your local community.
There were so many great vendors on hand and of course the Big Peach on Wheels truck was there for any shopping needs you might have. I just so happen to find yet another pair of goodr sunglasses that I "needed" so I didn't walk away empty handed.
Team 65 Roses briefly spoke about their foundation and how the funds raised today were helping with Cystic Fibrosis research before the awards ceremony started. It always adds a nice touch to races when you hear how money raised is being used and impacting your local community.
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Since it was a point-to-point race, shuttles were offered from the finish line back to the starting lines for the 5K and 10K. There was a bit of a line when we walked up to the bus area and I was honestly quite skeptical on how quickly the line would move. Well, I was quite please that there was a continuous flow of buses arriving that as soon as one filled up, it pulled out and another pulled in. We might have been in line 5 minutes if that.
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I am so happy that I was able to finally take part in the Big Peach Sizzler 10K. It really lived up to everything that my friends raved about over the years for sure. Disneyland is so much fun and my heart was sad not being there today, but this helped fill the void a bit.
Thank you again to Big Peach, 65 Roses, and everyone who made this race possible. It was a fantastic race and one that I hope to run again in 2019.
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